Festivals play an important role in the life of Telugu community. So is the case of Telugu cinema, the major entertainment media for the masses. Telugu cinema lovers do have a celebrating reason for having festivals other than doing pujas and meeting all the relatives, near and dear. Watching Telugu cinema that is. Telugu cinema makers take special interest in dishing out their film during the festival season. We have got three major festivals a year namely Sankranthi, Ugadi and Dasara when it come to the release of Telugu cinema.

This Sankranti, we had the release of Kodanda Ramudu (1st Jan), Annayya(7th Jan), Kalisundam Raa(14th Jan), Postman(13th Jan) and Vamsoddarakudu(14th Jan). If we leave out the commercial success part of it out, all these films could manage great openings mainly because of the festival crowds. As Kodandaramudu, Postman and Vamsoddarakudu has seen the red, Kalisudam Raa and Annayya went on to become major grosser with 'Kalisundam Raa' having an edge in terms of storyline and treatment and of course, box office collections.

Next festive season for Telugu cinema is the month of April, post Ugadi season. We had four major releases during this period. These films are Nuvvu Vastavani(5th April), Yuvaraju(14th April), Sakhi(13th April), and Badri(20th April). Out of these four films, Nuvvu Vastavani and Badri went on to become top grossers, with Nuvvu Vastavani leading the pack. Sakhi, turned out to be cinema lover's delight with Mani Ratnam giving a fabulous treat for the eyes and AR Rehman for the ears. Yuvaraju, despite of bad story line and shady direction, could do substantially well because of the prince charming Mahesh.

The just finished festival Vijayadasami (popularly known as Dasara) too has a string of releases. These films are Ayodya Ramayya(14th September), Ninne Premista (15th September), Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary(15th September), Azaad (29th September), Vamsi (4th October) and Jayam Manadera (7th October). Though, it's too early to comment on the fate of these films, Jayam Manadera may turn out to be the winner and Ninne Premista coming close to it followed by Vamsi and Azaad.

And here we have some good news about the seekers of Telugu cinema for the next Sankranti. We have six major films hitting the marquee for Sankranti 2001. They are Mrigaraju, Narasimha Naidu, Murari, Aakasa Veedhilo, Devi Putrudu and Srihari's film.

The first one being Chiranjeevi's Mrigaraju. Devi Vara Prasad who has given Gharana Mogudu with Chiranjeevi in the past is producing this film. Director of this film is Gunasekhar who gave 'Choodalani Vundi' in the past with Chiru. Chiru is playing as the Jungle guide to the engineer Simran, who has come to do some research and findings. This film is remotely based on Hollywood blockbuster 'Ghost and the darkness'. Incidentally this film is releasing exactly a year after the release of Chiru's earlier film 'Annayya'.

The second release for Sankranti is Narasimha Naidu (title is yet to be confirmed) by Balayya and B Gopal. This film too will be release just after two years after the release of Samara Simha Reddy, an all time Telugu Blockbuster that was released on 14th of 1999. This film is about a saviour of a Village played by Balayya. This film has three heroines Simran, Asha saini and Preeti Jingyani.

The third release is going to be 'Aakasa Veedhilo' from by Nag. This film is being produced Usha Kiron movies and directed by Singeetam Sreenivasa Rao. This film is about the hijack of the place and it boasts of amazing special effects. Raveen Tandon is playing the female lead.

The fourth release is going to be 'Devi Putrudu' by Venky. This film is going to succeed the success of 'Raa' films 'Kalisundam Raa' and 'Jayam Manadera'. But it's hard to understand why the producer decided to release this film on 11th of January 2001, which is going to be 96th day of Jayam Mandera. Anjala Jhaveri and Soundarya are playing female leads. The story of the film goes like this. Venky is playing two roles in this film as Archeologist and a Tapori. The villains kill archeologist, who had a daughter. How Tapori Venky rescues the daughter of Archeologist and decimates the evil forced with the help of divine powers. MS Raju who has given 'Devi', a special effects hit film in the past is producing this film. Special effects specialist Kodi Rama Krishna is directing the film.

Fifth film is going to be Mahesh Babu's 'Murari'. The whiz kid director 'Krishna Vamsi' is directing this youthful film. Though Krishna Vamsi delivered a string of hits, 'Ninne Pelladata' is the film that is liked by one and all, as it was a pucca commercial film. According to Krishna Vamsi, this film too is going to beat Ninne Pelladata in youthfulness and fun and he is not delivering any message out of this film. Long legged lass Sonali Bendre is playing the lady love bird. This film is going to release on 14th of January, just a day after the 100 days completion of Mahesh Babu's 'Vamsi'.

In addition to the above five films Srihari's new film is going to be released on the auspicious time. AA Mahendra, who gave Srihari as hero will produce this film. This film will go on floors on 5th of November.

With so much of expectations, we along with our beloved visitors will wait for the next festival of Telugu Cinema.

- Jeevi
Editor
http://www.idlebrain.com
Telugu Cinema and Etc